Miss Mandie

It seems rather remiss of me to have not officially introduced you to the wonderful forest I currently call home. I love it here. I wind up a dirt driveway that takes about six minutes from turning off the main road. It’s like entering a different world. A world where peak hour traffic means the one neighbour that lives further along than me drives to work in the morning, and comes home in the evening. A place where the sounds of birds, and cows, and dogs, echo across the valley during the day and the bats and possums come alive at night. Where the brightness of stars in the evening, outshine the candlelight from inside. A place that has forced me to confront my fear of snakes, by presenting me with majestic over-two-metre long versions slithering around the forest floor.

It’s also a place where nature is firmly in charge and the human residents are forced to abide by it’s rules.

Swollen creek levels after one storm

When it rains for more than a day, the creek at the bottom of the property swells to breaking point. Through the wild storms last month, I was stranded on my forest island for two nights until flooding subsided enough to cross the bridge out. When we could finally drive out, we had the hurdle of a fallen tree. Thankfully, we were able to drive under it as it had conveniently wedged itself on tree on the other side. Lucky!

The latest exciting development this week here has been a landslip of part of the driveway. When it first occurred, those of us living on the other side of it, risked driving across to get out. There was no getting back though, particularly as more of it slides away each day. So for the moment, I get to enjoy a 10 minute walk through The Forest to my car. It was particularly thrilling last night, as I trekked back late at night. Marvelling at the milky way shining down upon me, and enjoying the difference of walking through the towering trees in darkness. Until I remembered the wild dogs I have heard about residing on this property with us. I suddenly found myself quickening my pace and chuckling at myself for being such a whimp

Fallen tree after storms	Part of our driveway slips away!

A global movement has been building over the past couple of years, where once a year people all over the planet have the chance to show their commitment to support our precious environment.

Started in Sydney in 2007 (go Aussies!), Earth Hour involves the simple act of switching off your lights for one hour. Proclaimed this year as the global vote between “earth” and “global warming”, we’re all being urged to make our choice and take action by flicking a simple switch.

No matter where you are in the world, just turn your lights off on your Saturday night, 28 March at 8.30pm and cast your vote! 

Want to get an idea of how far reaching this campagin has become? Watch the video below: